Barrel.



I. Z. ZELMA.

BARREL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.19IB.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Ill MR Elvwwntoz Z ZZeb/m 4 ISIAH z. ZELMA, OF EAST PALATKA, FLORIDA.

BARREL,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an. 21,1919.

Application filed Ju1y24,-19 1 8, eel-em; 246,536,

To all whom it may concern: p

' Be it known that I, ISIAH Z. ZELMA, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Palatka, in the county of Putnam and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barrels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in receptacles and has relation more I particularly to a device of this general character which may be readily collapsed to occupy a minimum of space when not in use and it is an object of the invention to provide a receptacle of this general character having novel and improved means whereby it may be readily and conveniently assembled in operative relation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a receptacle having novel and improved means whereby the contents thereof may be readily ventilated so that the receptacle is particularly well adapted for use in gllle shipping of potatoes and other vegeta- The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved receptacle whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view taken through a receptacle constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2: is a view in top plan of the device as herein disclosed, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating certain details of construction as herein embodied.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings my improved receptacle is in the type of a barrel and the body B thereof comprises a plurality of staves 1 of predetermined dimensions and each of said staves atits opposite ends 3 i's provided with the longitudinally disposed slots 2. of the slots 2 is of a length substantially equal to one-third of the length of the stave and is open at its outer end.

The staves 1 substantially midway their lengths are provided with the transversely disposed openings 3 through which a flexible member 4 is threaded, said member 4 being preferably a wire of requisite gage. The member 4 is also threaded through the blocks 5 interposed between adjacent staves whereby the central portion of the staves are positively maintained in separated re lation when inoperative assemblage.

The opposite end portions of the staves 1 are also provided with transversely disposed openings 3 through which are threaded the flexible members 6 preferably wire, of requi'site gage with the single member 6 at each end portion of the body B. One end portion of each of the flexible members 4t and 6 is provided with a loop 7 through which is adaptedto be inserted the opposite end portion ofsaid flexible memher so that when the staves lvof the body B are arranged in operative relation the members 4 and 6 may have their end portions connected in a manner to effectively maintain the desired arrangement of the staves 1.

Coacting with the opposite end portions of the body B are the heads H and as herein disclosed each of said heads H comprise two superimposed plates 8 suit ably secured one to the other and preferably formed of wood with the grain of one of the plates arranged substantially at right angles to the second plate. It has also been found of advantage to have each of the plates 8 comprise two or more divided sections a.

After a head H has been inserted within an end portion of the body B said head H may be eifectively held therein by imposing the requisite tension upon the adjacent flexible member 6.

To hold each of the heads H against outward movement, when in applied position, I find it of advantage to dispose across the outer face of the head and substantially at right angles the holding wires 10. Each of the wires 10 comprises two strands 1) arranged substantially in parallelism with the connected end portions thereof straddling or bridging an end portion of a stave 1 inwardly of the adjacent flexible member 6. The opposite or free end portions of the strands b are disposed at opposite sides of a diametrically opposed stave and arranged inwardly of the adjacent member 6 with the free extremities of said strands I) twisted one about the other as indicated at 0. By this means it will be self-evident that each of the heads H may be held in applied position and particularly against outward movement by the holding wires 10.

When the receptacle is assembled the spaces between the adjacent staves 1 and the openings afforded by'the slots 2 permit an effective ventilation for the contents packed within the receptacle whereby the shipping of potatoes or other vegetables may be accomplished with increased advantage. is to be particularly observed that the construction of my improved receptacle is such as to insure the ventilation of the contents of the receptacle adjacent the heads H and this in itself, in practice, has proven to be of i decided advantage.

Gppies or this patent may be obtained for ble of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish "to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim a A receptacle of the class described comprising a plurality of staves, flexible members threaded through the opposite end portions of the staves and substantially midway the length thereof, spacing blocks interposed between adjacent staves and through which the central flexiblegfmember is also threaded and removable heads engageable withinthe opposite end portions of the body afforded by the staves, the opposite end portions of the staves beingprovided with longitudinally disposed slots, the outer end of said slots being-open, said heads when in applied position 7 being arranged inwardly of the open ends of the slots, and the end portions o f'fadjacent staves being substantially in contact, the spacing "blocks, throughjwhich', the central flexible member is threadedserving to main tain the intermediate portions of adjacent staves in separated relation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

"ISIAH z. ZELMA.

five cents each, py addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washin ton, n. ca 

